By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2024 – Fred Ferguson, the renowned Bahamian entertainer who is the producer of the Bahamian cultural show “Junkanoo In Paradise”, has confirmed that a preliminary meeting was held with the management of the Olney Theatre Center in Olney, Maryland, about the possibility “of getting our show into the theatre, but nothing is concrete yet.”
Ferguson and several others connected with Junkanoo In Paradise were in D.C. on Monday, and Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell alluded to purpose of their trip in the narrative that accompanied a photo he posted on his Facebook page. Mr. Mitchell was in D.C. for the Organization of American States (OAS) protocolary meeting to commemorate Pan American Day and Pan American Week.:
“Junkanoo in Paradise”, a musical drama by Roots Junkanoo organization, recently completed an extended run four nights a week for the winter season – Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – at Atlantis on Paradise Island, across from Nassau, and is expected to return for the summer season.
An article in The Tribune, one of The Bahamas’ leading newspapers, on December 27 quoted Ferguson as saying, “The Dundas Theatre has traditionally been the highlight for acting in the country. I think this will be the springboard for not only other Junkanoo groups, but other groups to put together Bahamian stories related to what we are culturally. This is taking Junkanoo off of Bay Street onto a stage a la Broadway and showing people how you can make money doing Junkanoo different from having to compete on Bay Street. It’s never been done before.”
Erin Knowles is the musical’s director, Ricardo Christie is the choreographer, and Mr Ferguson co-wrote the music with Sammie Star. All but two musical selections are original pieces.
Located in Olney, Maryland, the Olney Theatre Center offers a diverse array of professional productions year-round that enrich, nurture, and challenge a broad range of artists, audiences and students. One of the two official state theaters of Maryland, Olney Theatre Center is situated on 14 acres (57,000 m2) in the middle of the Washington–Baltimore–Frederick “triangle.” There are three indoor venues: the Historic Theatre, the Roberts Mainstage, and the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab. There is also an outdoor venue, the Root Stage at Omi’s Pavilion.
